Cytokinin signaling

EA2106 Cytokinin signaling

Recently, cytokinin (CK) signaling has emerged as a major factor in plant-microbe and plant-insect interactions. Not only plants synthesize CK, but pathogens such as bacteria or fungi can also produce them. Interestingly, plant- and pathogen-derived CK could inversely affect the plant defense response through the modulation of CK signaling. In plants, CK signaling involves a phosphotransfer cascade composed by histidine-kinase receptors (CHK), histidine phosphotransfer proteins (HPt), response regulators (RR) and CK-response factors (CRF).

Research programs performed by the EA2106 BBV team are also focused on the role of CK signaling in apple tree (Malus x domestica) challenged with pathogens or insects. Apple is one of the major fruit crops produced in the world and is submitted to a wide range of pathogens (Erwinia amylovora and Venturia inaequalis, the causal agents of fire blight and apple scab respectively) and pests that caused dramatic damages on cultures. The recent sequenced apple genome allowed us to start identifying the components of CK signaling, especially MdCHK and MdHPt. Now we are currently (i) establishing the functional characterization of the MdCHK in biotic interactions, (ii) determining the MdCHK-MdHPt interaction network.

In parallel, we are also studying the â€śmolecular signatureâ€ť of CK signaling pathways in plant-microbe/insect interactions by bioinformatics tools.

Senoussi, M., CrĂ¨che, J., Rideau, M. & Djekoun, A.(2013). Effect of cytokinin in processing at long term on the production of indole alkaloids in periwinkle cellular suspensions. Ann Biol Res4, 97â€“101.